strengthening market position with more than 6,000 global customers offering unparalleled supply chain optimization solutions spanning from materials to the consumer.
Advanced Planning, APS, FCS, S&OP
Among the most popular software planning technologies is Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS). This is a type of software solution that sets out to ensure production capacity and the materials required for manufacture are optimally sourced and allocated to satisfy demand. Other related tools include Finite Capacity Scheduling. This approach sets out to understanding how much production capacity is possible within a specified timeframe. The aim is to manage workflow at an even and efficient pace throughout the production process. Finite scheduling tools differ from infinite capacity scheduling tools in that the latter are in the main more simple and unable to account for system issues/constraints that happen in real time.
Manhattan Associates unveils first forecasting method for intermittent and seasonal demand
Jan 26, 2010
Carrying the right amount of inventory is a delicate balance for retailers, who must anticipate the demand for particular products based on seasonal and intermittent market trends throughout the calendar year.
Latest generation of Advanced Yard management software unveiled
Jan 20, 2010
Logistics software specialists Vehnet have unveiled Advanced Yard, the latest generation of their widely used yard management software.
Mitsubishi extend use of BOARD to incorporate Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting
Jan 11, 2010
Utilising the all-in-one approch, the integration of existing reporting and analytics already delivered in BOARD, with the new Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting functionality is made simple in BOARD.
Bitmakers and Ortec form strategic partnership
Jan 05, 2010
Bitmakers resells Ortecs Vehicle Routing and Dispatch, Pallet and Load building and Field Service Planning Solution Suites in the Spanish market.
Essar Steel Transforms its Supply Chain Using i2 Planning Solutions
Dec 16, 2009
i2 Technologies, Inc. have announced that Essar Steel, one of the largest global steel producers, has implemented i2 planning solutions.
Preactor User Group Celebrates Partnership Success
Dec 07, 2009
End Users, Partners and Preactor International share growing benefits from production planning and scheduling software
Warsteiner Brewery
Nov 25, 2009
Warsteiner turned to Infor SCM Advanced Scheduler, which completely models and manages the groups supply chain from beginning to end.
IFS launches Advanced Planning Board giving customers high level of control over manufacturing resources
Nov 19, 2009
IFS has announced the first live customer, Vlkl- a German ski manufacturer, and the general availability of its Advanced Planning Board.
Singing from the same hymn sheet
Nov 16, 2009
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with key spokespeople from the S&OP software solutions space to consider the concepts origins and to get up to speed with a few areas of ongoing development and innovation.
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS).
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) refers to a manufacturing management process by which raw materials and production capacity are optimally allocated to meet demand. In manufacturing, the purpose of scheduling is to minimize the production time and costs by improving the efficiency of the operation. Scheduling is an important tool for manufacturing as it can have a major impact on the productivity of a process.
APS is especially well-suited to environments where simpler planning methods cannot adequately address complex trade-offs between competing priorities. Traditional planning and scheduling systems utilise a stepwise procedure to allocate material and production capacity. This approach is simple but cumbersome, and does not readily adapt to changes in demand, resource capacity or material availability. Materials and capacity are planned separately, and many systems do not consider limited material availability or capacity constraints. Thus, this approach often results in plans that cannot be executed. Production scheduling tools greatly outperform older manual scheduling methods.
These provide the production scheduler with powerful graphical interfaces which can be used to visually optimize real-time work-loads in various stages of production, and pattern recognition allows the software to automatically create scheduling opportunities which might not be apparent without this view into the data. Companies use backward and forward scheduling to allocate plant and machinery resources, plan human resources, plan production processes and purchase materials. Forward scheduling is planning the tasks from the date resources become available to determine the shipping date or the due date.
Backward scheduling is planning the tasks from the due date or required-by date to determine the start date and/or any changes in capacity required. Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) provides an updated forecast that leads to a sales plan, production plan, inventory plan, customer lead time (backlog) plan, new product development plan, strategic initiative plan and resulting financial plan. Variations in frequency of the plan depend on the type of manufacturing industry. Short product life cycles and high demand volatility require a tighter S&OP planning than steadily consumed products.
A properly implemented S&OP process routinely reviews customer demand and supply resources and “re-plans” quantitatively across an agreed rolling horizon. The re-planning process focuses on changes from the previously agreed sales and operations plan. While it helps the management team to understand how the company achieved its current level of performance, its primary focus is on future actions and anticipated results.
